In today’s fast-paced, highly mobile world, high-traffic environments have become critical battlegrounds in the fight against infection. Hotels, hospitals, airports, shopping centres, and mixed-use developments are designed to encourage movement, interaction, and shared experiences. Yet the very qualities that make these spaces vibrant also make them vulnerable. Hands remain the most common vehicle for transmitting bacteria and viruses, and in busy environments, the simple act of hand hygiene can be easily overlooked.

According to the World Health Organization, effective hand hygiene can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by up to 40 per cent and respiratory infections by 21 per cent. Despite this, compliance in high-traffic settings often falls below 50 per cent, particularly where time pressure, behavioural fatigue, and inadequate infrastructure intersect. To understand how different sectors are responding, we bring together insights from hospitality and healthcare—two industries where hand hygiene is not just a protocol, but a core operational responsibility.

The Pressure Points of High-Traffic Spaces

Across sectors, the challenges are strikingly similar. Volume and speed make manual monitoring almost impossible. Behavioural barriers—such as rushing, complacency, or over-familiarity with environments—lead to skipped handwashing. Infrastructure gaps persist, with poorly placed sinks or sanitiser stations failing to align with natural movement patterns.

In hotels, guest perception adds another layer of complexity. Hygiene must be effective yet discreet, reassuring without being intrusive. In hospitals, the stakes are even higher, where lapses in hand hygiene can directly translate into healthcare-associated infections.

“High-traffic environments don’t allow for second chances,” says Dania Abdulkareem Alzayer, MSN, RN, Public Health specialist and Infectious Control Head. “When hundreds of people touch the same surfaces every hour, even a small gap in hand hygiene can have serious consequences for patients, staff, and visitors.”

The Hospitality Perspective: Hygiene as Experience

From the hotel industry’s point of view, hand hygiene has evolved from a back-of-house compliance issue into a visible element of guest experience and brand trust. Kunutkhan Pathan, Cluster Executive Housekeeper at Centro Salama Jeddah, explains that modern guests are far more aware of hygiene than they were a decade ago.

“Guests may not always comment on hygiene when it’s done well,” Pathan notes, “but they immediately notice when it’s missing. In high-traffic areas like lobbies, elevators, restaurants, and meeting spaces, hand hygiene directly influences how safe and comfortable a guest feels.”

Hotels today are increasingly integrating wellness-focused hygiene protocols into their design and daily operations. Touchless dispensing systems are now standard in many properties, reducing the ‘second-touch’ problem that comes with manual pumps. Advanced dispensers equipped with sensors and IoT connectivity can track usage patterns and alert housekeeping teams when refills are needed, ensuring consistency even during peak occupancy.

“Technology has helped us move from reactive cleaning to proactive hygiene,” Pathan explains. “When you have data on usage and traffic flow, you can place sanitiser stations exactly where guests need them, rather than where it’s convenient for staff.”

Hotels are also adopting tools traditionally associated with healthcare, such as ATP meters that provide real-time feedback on surface cleanliness. Combined with UV-C disinfection in guest rooms and public areas, these measures reinforce a layered approach to infection prevention.

Healthcare’s Frontline Reality

In healthcare, hand hygiene has always been the first line of defence. Yet even in hospitals, compliance can be challenging in crowded outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and reception areas.

“People are often in a rush, and staff cannot physically monitor every corner,” says Alzayer. “Traditional dispensers alone are no longer enough in high-traffic environments.”

To address this, hospitals are increasingly turning to smart, technology-driven solutions. Touch-free dispensers that track usage are now linked to AI-powered dashboards, offering infection control teams real-time visibility into compliance trends. These systems identify high-risk zones, peak usage times, and areas where additional interventions may be needed.

One of the most promising innovations is the use of wearable reminders for healthcare staff. Badges or wrist devices gently alert staff when they enter patient care areas without performing hand hygiene.

“These reminders are not about policing,” Alzayer emphasises. “They’re about support. A simple vibration can prevent a missed moment and protect both patients and healthcare workers.”

Technology Transforming Hand Hygiene

Across both sectors, emerging technologies are redefining what effective hand hygiene looks like in busy environments.

Automated hygiene stations, capable of eliminating up to 99.9 per cent of pathogens in seconds, are being deployed at entrances and transition points. Some systems combine hand sanitisation with footwear cleaning and UV-C surface disinfection, creating comprehensive hygiene gateways.

AI-powered compliance monitoring has shown remarkable results, with some facilities achieving compliance rates of up to 97 per cent and significantly reducing infection rates. Visual cues, digital prompts, and even gamified reminders are proving effective in reinforcing positive behaviour without adding pressure.

Eco-friendly sanitisation solutions are also gaining traction. Systems that generate cleaning liquids using ozonated or alkaline water reduce reliance on harsh chemicals while remaining effective against biofilms and pathogens. For both hotels and hospitals, sustainability is becoming inseparable from hygiene.

“In hospitality, sustainability and hygiene must go hand in hand,” says Pathan. “Guests want to see responsible practices that protect their health without harming the environment.”

Global Guidelines and Regional Relevance

Global frameworks are reinforcing this shift. The WHO and UNICEF’s 2025 Global Hand Hygiene Guidelines position hand hygiene as a public good, urging facilities to integrate access to soap, water, and sanitiser into building design and daily operations. In the Middle East, where large-scale developments, mega-events, and medical tourism continue to grow, these guidelines carry particular weight.

Compliance is no longer optional. Regulatory expectations, brand reputation, and public trust are increasingly tied to visible, verifiable hygiene practices.

Actionable Steps for Facility Managers

Whether in hospitality or healthcare, experts agree that success lies in combining technology with thoughtful implementation:

• Strategic placement of touchless dispensers at entrances, elevators, and food service areas, aligned with natural traffic flow.
  
  
• Data-driven decisions using electronic monitoring to identify compliance gaps and optimise resources.
  
  
• Flexible solutions, such as portable hygiene stations, for areas with fluctuating footfall.
  
  
• Staff training and engagement, reinforcing not just the ‘how’ but the ‘why’ of hand hygiene.
  
  
• Sustainable choices, including refillable systems and eco-friendly sanitising agents.
  
  

“Technology works best when people understand its purpose,” Alzayer notes. “Education, signage, and visible reminders are just as important as the devices themselves.”

A Shared Future of Safer Spaces

What unites hospitality and healthcare is a growing recognition that hand hygiene is no longer a standalone task. It is a system—one that blends design, technology, behaviour, and culture.

“Hand hygiene today is about creating confidence,” Pathan reflects. “When guests see consistent, visible hygiene measures, it builds trust in the entire operation.”

Alzayer echoes this sentiment from the clinical side: “Clean hands save lives, but in high-traffic environments, they also protect communities. The future lies in making the right action the easiest action.”

As high-traffic environments continue to define modern living, the message is clear. Hand hygiene, powered by smart technology and supported by human awareness, is not just a response to past pandemics—it is a foundation for healthier, more resilient spaces across the Middle East and beyond.